"Dead flies putrefy the perfumer's ointment, and cause it to
give off a foul odor; so does a little folly to one respected for wisdom
and honor"
(Ecclesiastes
10:1).

By this time, as far as we are in
Ecclesiastes, it should be clear that it's difficult to find a unified flow
of thought. That doesn't mean there aren't unified thoughts; it's just not
easy to find the flow of those thoughts; that is, it doesn't progress from
one thought to another and to another in any kind of systematic flow. At
least, it doesn't seem to.

Nevertheless, important ideas and thoughts are there, all well worth our
study, especially when studied in comparison with the rest of the Bible.

This week's lesson also could have been titled "Thoughts, Words, Actions,"
for it deals with all three. Solomon talks about our thoughts, he talks about
our words, and he talks about our actions, though not exactly in that order.
Of course, in one sense, if you cover thoughts, words, and actions, there's
isn't much left, is there?

With his powerful poetic style, Solomon gives us more to ponder. Though we
have to work our way through the thoughts of this chapter, when we do we
can see that there's a lot of meat here, a lot of practical wisdom that would
do us all well to heed carefully.

*Study this week's lesson to prepare for Sabbath, March 17.

SUNDAY

March 11

Dead Flies

Ecclesiastes
10:1 really needs to be read along with
Ecclesiastes
9:18, at least the last clause. Though not saying exactly the same thing,
Ecclesiastes
9:18 helps clarify the principle found in
10:1,
which is-no matter how much good one does, a stupid mistake can so spoil
it all.

Last week we talked a little about how in this life we have to make the choices
that will, in the end, determine our eternal destiny. But many times our
choices also have much more immediate consequences. How often someone can,
in a weak and unguarded moment, make a choice that brings sudden and painful
consequences. What makes these events even more tragic is that so often those
who make those wrong choices can be "good" people, faithful and honorable
souls who, as we all do, slip and fall. In one sense the more honorable,
exalted, and esteemed the person is, the more responsibility upon that person
to weigh his or her decisions carefully.

Below
are a few biblical examples of good folk making bad
choices. What caused these people to stumble, and what were the results of
their folly?

A man works many years for the Lord only to, in a weak moment, make a mistake,
perhaps a moral fall, and then-suddenly his ministry is, if not ruined, then
certainly damaged. Whether right or not, this harsh consequence is a reality,
one that should cause us all, regardless of our position, to walk carefully
and circumspectly. In all the biblical accounts listed above, the Lord obviously
forgave these people; how much more so should we, then, forgive those who
have violated a sacred trust. But forgiveness doesn't automatically mean
that the damage is undone; most times it isn't. How easily a few dead flies
can stink up a whole jar of scented oil!

Whoever you are, whatever your position in the church, think about
the negative consequences that could occur if you were to violate a trust.
Watch and pray before you act!

MONDAY

March 12

The Fool's Heart

Ecclesiastes
10:2 is, obviously, poetic language depicting the difference between
the heart (mind) of a wise person and of a foolish one. The imagery of left
and right hand is found in various places in the Bible, with the right side
considered the side of honor, power, and favor. After all, Jesus Himself
talks about, when He returns, sitting "on the right hand of power"
(Matt.
26:64; see also
Matt.
25:31-34,
Acts
7:55). In contrast, the left side was considered the side of evil
and misfortune. In fact, the Latin word for left hand, sinistra, forms
the basis for the English word sinister. Even today in some countries
children who show a proclivity toward writing with their left hand are made
to use their right instead.

Because the heart was considered the center of all thoughts, emotions, and
plans
(Gen.
6:5,
Exod.
25:2,
1
Sam. 16:7), Solomon's point is simply that the wise person guards
the thoughts, the feelings, and the motives, while the foolish person doesn't.
This verse shows how important it is that we keep control over what goes
on inside us, because what's inside sooner or later becomes manifest on the
outside.

Verse
3 fits perfectly with
verse
2. The fool's "wisdom," which is on his left side, eventually exposes
him to others as a fool. In other words, sooner or later the corruption of
your heart will become clear to others because you will, sooner or later,
follow the inclinations of your heart. How important, then, to get control
of our hearts! If we have them under control, the rest of our body will follow.

Suppose you are struggling with wrong thoughts. What does
Deuteronomy
30:6 say, and what hope does it offer? How does
Philippians
4:6-8 offer us practical advice on how to have that promise fulfilled?

TUESDAY

March 13

More Evil

Solomon here continues with more platitudes and sayings.
Verses
4-7, though presenting some difficulty, seem to be talking about the
question touched on earlier in the book, that of injustice and unfairness
in this life.

What
are some of the injustice and unfairness that he talks
about in these verses? What are some other examples that you can think of?

Though most of us might not have a problem with a few rich sitting in "a
low place," the point is that things aren't always as expected: Folly wins
great dignity and wealth a low spot. Or, in other contexts, faithful people
suffer, evil prospers, and so forth. Maybe this theme is repeated in Ecclesiastes
because the problem is so universal. Whatever the reason, we can't allow
these things to work against our faith and trust in God. This is just all
part of what it means to live in a fallen world.

What role do we have in working to alleviate the injustices and inequities
that we see? Is it just enough to say, "Well, that's what it means to live
in a fallen world," or are we to work for justice, equity, and fairness?
And, if so, how are we to do it? In what ways would our activism be different
from the world's? See
Isa.
58:6, 7;
Matt.
26:52;
John
18:36;
2
Cor. 10:4;
Rev.
13:10.

WEDNESDAY

March 14

The Snake Charmer

Ecclesiastes
10:8-11 is a sequence of short proverbs dealing
with various aspects of life. What points can you make from them?

These are difficult texts; many commentators see different things in them.
Following the lead of The SDA Bible Commentary, we can discern the following
ideas here.

Verse 8 seems to be talking about what happens when we are vindictive, when
we plan evil against someone. The pit that we dug for someone else we end
up falling into
(Pss.
7:15;
57:6;
Prov.
26:27; see also
Esther
9:23, 25). The same idea is found in the part about the "hedge" (wall);
when you tear down someone else's wall, you can get bitten by a snake that
lodges there.

Though the exact meaning of
verse
9 is debated, Solomon simply could be saying that even when you do good
things, bad consequences could arise from them. This could fit in with his
general pessimism.

Verse
10 is pretty clear. If you are using a dull knife, your work will be
much harder. How much more profitable to sharpen it beforehand. In the same
way, wisdom, i.e., thoughtful preparation before you undertake anything,
would be to your advantage. "The Christian should seek and make use of the
finest tools of spiritual craftsmanship for the task of character construction.
Effort alone is insufficient; there must be knowledge as well as zeal (see
Rom.
10:2)."The SDA Bible Commentary, vol. 3, p. 1098.

Verse
11 says, basically, that if the snake bites the charmer before it's charmed,
then there's no sense in him trying to charm it. The meaning, perhaps, is
best seen in the last part of the verse, about the uselessness of a babbler.
Charming a snake after it bites you (such as a viper, whose bite is deadly)
is as meaningless and useless as someone who babbles.

Go back over the day's lesson. Which of these points makes the most
sense or speaks the clearest to you? What lessons can you learn from it that
you should apply to yourself? Are you vindictive? Do you babble too much?
How much time do you spend preparing yourself spiritually for whatever trials
the day brings?

THURSDAY

March 15

The Fool's Lips

The rest of Ecclesiastes 10
(vss.
10-20) touches on various themes, but for today we'll focus on
verses
12-14 and 20, in which the emphasis is on the use of our words. How careful
we must be with what we say!

The word translated "gracious" in the first part of the verse is the same
word for grace ("Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord"
[Gen.
6:8]); grace is unmerited favor; that is, we don't get the punishment
we deserve. That's the essence of salvation: We are not getting the punishment
we deserve (Jesus took it upon Himself instead). In contrast, the words of
the fool cause him to be swallowed, a word used in various instances to depict
sinners being punished
(Exod.
15:12,
Num.
16:32,
Jer
51:34,
Lam.
2:5).

How often we dismiss someone as "all talk, no action." Many times, however,
talk leads to action, because talk reflects what's in the heart. It would
be bad enough if the fool did nothing but talk; sadly, that's not always
the case. No wonder we are admonished all through the Bible to watch our
words.

The bottom line: A wise person will be careful with how he or she chooses
his or her words; a fool, on the other hand, will speak words that will,
one way or another, bring unnecessary pain and sorrow.

Think about a time when unnecessary words you spoke caused you trouble.
What lessons did you learn? What advice could you give to someone who hasn't
yet learned to control the tongue?

"It is a law of nature that our thoughts and feelings are encouraged and
strengthened as we give them utterance. While words express thoughts, it
is also true that thoughts follow words. If we would give more expression
to our faith, rejoice more in the blessings that we know we havethe
great mercy and love of Godwe should have more faith and greater joy.
No tongue can express, no finite mind can conceive, the blessing that results
from appreciating the goodness and love of God. Even on earth we may have
joy as a wellspring, never failing, because fed by the streams that flow
from the throne of God." Ellen G. White, The Ministry of Healing,
pp. 251-253.

"The words we utter today will go on echoing when time shall be no more.
The deeds done today are transferred to the books of heaven, just as the
features are transferred by the artist onto the polished plate. They will
determine our destiny for eternity, for bliss or eternal loss and agonizing
remorse." Ellen G. White, Testimonies to Ministers,
pp. 429, 430.

Discussion
Questions:

Think about the power of words-the good they can do
or the evil they can do. As a class, talk about whatever practical things
we can do to help each other understand how important it is that we carefully
guard our words. For instance, who can give personal examples of lessons
they have learned regarding the power of words? As a class, try to come up
with a list of practical suggestions, simple and basic principles that could
guide us in how we use our words.

Because our thoughts are so important, what can you do as a class to help
the young people in your church make the right choices regarding the things
they read or watch? Why is it so important that we be careful about what
we put into our minds?

As a class, talk about the issue of anyone who has violated a sacred trust.
How have we as a church dealt with such people? What principles should guide
us in these cases? How do we show mercy and grace toward those who fall while,
at the same time, protecting the flock from those who have violated the trust
put in them?

I
N S I D E
Story

Bright Light of God

by MATSEPO LAURA LEBONA

I was sickly as a child living in Lesotho, a tiny country in southern Africa.
When I began having strange dreams, the village witch doctors told my parents
that a strong spirit lived in me. Although my family members were Christians,
they feared that I would die if I did not follow the spirit. So, I went to
study with a witch doctor. But what I learned from the witch doctor was contrary
to everything I had learned about God. I remembered that the Ten Commandments
teach us to honor God only. I could not bring myself to kneel and pray to
insects and snakes. Nevertheless, I stayed and learned to "prophesy" people's
future.

I married a good man, but still I had no peace. God kept a glimmer of truth
alive in my heart. When at night the spirit tried to choke me, I called out
to Jesus. I prayed that if it was God's will, He would free me from, the
spirits. God answered my prayer, and the spirit left me. But my husband began
suffering the same symptoms I had suffered.

My in-laws gave me no peace, so my husband and I left their home and moved
to South Africa. There I met some Adventists who shared their knowledge of
God and helped us understand what the Bible says about spirits. Things became
clearer for us. I began attending the Adventist church and answered God's
call to "come unto Me."

I read Steps to Christ to my husband and tried to help him understand God's
will. Often during this time Satan tried to overpower me and draw me back
into the life we had left. But I would cry out, "Save me, Lord Jesus." And
Jesus saved me. My husband and I were baptized.

We returned to Lesotho
and shared what we had learned with our families and neighbors. It is difficult,
because no Adventist believers live in our community. People remember that
I once prophesied and had a spirit in me. "How can you be a Christian when
you were once possessed by a spirit?" they asked. To make matters more difficult,
there are no Adventists in our village, and people think we have joined a
cult. Please pray for us, for there is much work to do here in this battlefield.
There are many held by Satan who must come to Christ.